Adolescent health in an international context: The challenge of sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa

Today's young people are growing up in a world that is rapidly changing and vastly different from that of previous generations. The health challenges confronting them are also significantly different and vary greatly around the world. This article presents an overview of the health of young people in an international context and highlights the factors that have shaped the lives of young people in recent times. It draws attention to the patterns and variations in the major causes of mortality and morbidity. A special focus is given to sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV/AIDS and reproductive health challenges are the greatest.